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So the day that had caused us much anxiety and put us under weeks or perhaps months of madness finally arrived
We lugged 8 luggages, a stroller and a carseat, flew half way round the globe and made it to Montgomery

The kids were amazingly well behaved and cooperative throughout the flight
They slept when they were tired and ate when they were hungry
At Seoul’s Incheon Airport, they entertained themselves, scootering and dancing around in luggage trolleys

Yet earlier on at the departure gate, as we bade goodbyes to our families, the reality hadn’t quite sunk in for me
In 25 hours’ time, we would set foot in a totally new place and start our new lives
With new house, new schools, new routines and new people to meet
It is exciting and it is scary

To someone who once said I was fearless
I couldn’t say it better than Mark TwainCourage is resistance and mastery of fear, not the absence of it

Many said, we had done this before
Yes indeed but the fact is, experience didn’t reduce the things we needed to do
Neither would it have made the move any less painful if we hadn’t learned the lessons each time

I ended up having to part with so many things for the last couple of weeks, that at one point, it hit me that I had been so imprudent for all the money, time and effort spent in accumulating those things, which did very little in improving our lives and then, we had to go through the emotional turmoil of parting with them

I probably wouldn’t have came to this if not for the few major moves that we had gone through for the last decade
Yet what’s life if not for the striving for material gains and status
I stood between realisation and wonderment

We started living from our lugguage a week before we left
We moved into a temporary lodging
Caught our last sun set in Singapore from there

The only toys we brought along for the kids were their Lego
And for 1 week, they played nothing but Lego

They played Minecraft, not from iphone but using Lego Duplo
They built houses so that the zombie couldn’t attack them at night
They built planes and futristic aircraft

Back in our home, they hadn’t play that much Lego
I realised they were given too many toys and too many choices
And it would be our fault if they hadn’t learned prudence and contentment

As I sat in the plane, watching the first ray of light does it wonder
Lighting up the horizon in mystical colours
While snuggling up close to my husband, with my 3 1/2 year old sleeping soundly in my lap
and my 9 year old boy snoring despite sleeping in a very awkward position

I realized that I would have packed everything with nothing
So long as the family stays together

May you have a fruitful trip, Hai Fang. It is not easy to be uprooted, despite it being temporary, still, there are so many things to part & so many uncertainties ahead. Regardless, staying together as a family is the most impt.

Love the last line 🙂 It must have been tough I am sure, to pack and part but I’m certain there are many more great adventures waiting for you on the other side of the globe. Looking forward to more updates!

I should be feeling grateful that I was ‘forced’ to leave my comfort zone and throw myself into the unknown. Given a choice, I wouldn’t do what I am doing now . U are doing a great job inspiring mothers around you 🙂

It takes courage to uproot the whole family and start a new life. I feel the excitement as well as uncertainty through your post. But it’s true what you’ve said, most importantly, the whole family stays together. All the best in your new journey! 🙂

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and you capture it beautifully. I can totally relate to your perspectives, especially about the imprudence of money and time spent in accumulating things that you end up parting with. Having just moved to the US (am in the Chicago area) about a month ago, the packing for the move over really traumatised me. And I think actually made me mildly depressed for some time.

Look forward to your posts and learning about how you’re adjusting to this new life. 🙂

Hello There !

My name is Rachel. I am a stay at home mum to 2 boys. Life is not a bed of roses but I hope to find joy and inspiration through the little things in life. Through photography and writing this site shares my inspirations and thoughts